E1505, video card questions, please help.

Hello everyone...

I've searched and haven't found much, so please know this first off. I'm not some leecher who just has one question and wants a quick answer. I'm looking for a video card upgrade for my brand new E1505. The specs are... Core2 T7200, 2GB, 160HD, wsxga, x1400 etc. I'm looking for a bump in video horsepower. I'm actually impressed at what it "can" run, although not the quality that it will run it at. I'm currently playing HL2 engine games, BF2 and 2142 occasionally, but the machine is mainly for AutoCad and PhotoShop, hence the reason I switched from a desktop to a notebook, portability. I'm very well versed in desktops, but I find it very hard to find upgrades and parts for notebooks. I've read here and there on these forums that the E1505 and 6400 have had better video, but they've run out of stock, so my questions are:

1) Should I wait and see what Dell offers in the future above the x1400 and purchase the upgrade and install myself?

2) Is there an upgrade that I can purchase elsewhere?

3) I'm looking for something in the 8pipe range for performance, the current 4pipes on the x1400 are pretty meager, and I've had desktops with x800xl's, x1800xt's, 7900gtx's, and most recently a 7600gt. Is there even an upgrade worth the extra money?

Thanks for all your help, hope I don't get flamed for this one. I truly couldn't find a good answer here with the search tools.

~Josh

 

How does it do with BF2 and 2142?

What issues are you having with Pshop and AutoCad?

The E1705 offers the 7900gs.

There's no excuse for the E1505 not offering the X1600 at least as an option.

 

the x1400 is the highest end card that the 1505/6400 come equipped with meaning an upgrade beyond that card is not possible.

your best bet is to wait and just purchase a new notebook when one acceptable to you comes along.

a possible boost could be had by running the omega drivers.

 

It runs alright with BF2 and 2142, I'd say around 40-50 fps, with medium settings and forcing 1280x800 resolution, it's just not up to par with what I've had in the past, granted, I don't expect it to be. I experience some delay with movement, but I believe it's probably the screen's response time, I also have a ViewSonic VX924 and it doesn't seem to do that with that monitor being used. It's definately usable, just don't plan on owning anyone. It has no issues with autocad or photoshop, they all run flawlessly, as far as the E1705, it's just too big to be considered portable.

I guess unless someone comes up with an outlandish reply, I'll keep what I have, and keep the gaming with the 360 for now.

Thanks guys.

~Josh

 

There arent any real physical upgraded you can do to the E1505's video card. The main reason has to due with the motherboard and the space available within the case. Even if you could find a video card that would fit the motherboard its an almost given that the heat that the video card puts off would be detrimental to the life of your laptop.

If your dead set on getting the E1505 then your going to have to settle with the x1400 as the top video card that your going to get.

While you and I would love video card manufactures to think otherwise they all belive there just isnt a market for upgradeable video cards. Given the life of the average laptop in the real world is just not profitable for them to make video cards for laptops that are a year or two old. To do so would divert resources away from building the latest and greatest video cards for the latest and greatest laptops and desktops.

In a fantasy world where we could find a newer better video card than whats currently offered in the E1505 the manufacturer would probably be inundated with calls from users complaining that their laptop was getting way to hot.

 

I can play Far Cry and Half Life 2 at full screen 1680 x 1050 with full detail, smoothly...I run Fear on my desktop with an X800XT and still have some slowdowns...so all in all...the x1400 is decent. The good thing about even running at a lesser resolution...if you have the 1680 x 1050 screen...is that even though the resolution isn't native...still looks really good. I don't mind...so the x1400 is adequate for me. I am not a major gamer...but I do like ATI's 2D quality...usually better than Nvidia...and the 3D does OK.

Just my 2 cents

Bob

 

It's a bean counter thing even though I'm fairly sure a LOT of E1505 buyers would have chose the X1600 if offered as an upgrade.

The gulf between the X1400 and the 7900GS is far too wide, and you have to move to a 17" notebook, which I just did not want to do.

 

Shemula, our systems are identicle so I completely understand, they should offer the x1600 w/o even thinking about it. It must be poor manufacturing on the part of Dell with the case and mobo not to allow for this card. Although, the price comparisson is still unmatched, so I'm not going to complain. I still believe they will offer one in the future, and I'll be there to snag it up.

As far as the purchase goes, I've had it for a week, so I'll live with whatever I purchased, I'm definately not dissatissfied, this notebook is WAY fast.

Thanks for all of your insight people, I think I'll go back to my 360 for gaming, and leave the notebook for what it's best at, multitasking and making me smile.

 

I plan on playing BF1942 and GTR on mine. I also plan on playing Civ III and IV. I'm not a huge gamer... obviously. I hear it will play BF2 ok, so, I may pick up that up if I see around for cheap.

Apple puts a downclocked X1600 in their MacBook Pro and HP puts one in their business class 15". I don't really see how it's a manufacturing thing. I think Dell is just not making the moves to be strong.

Laptops are it. For the near future, it's the market you want to dominate and they are kinda muffing it in some ways.

 

I'm working on a review that is going to put my E1505 against my Athlon64 X2 3800+ desktop. Both are dualcore 2GHz machines with 2GB ram.

 

That sounds really interesting. I'd like to see how that goes performance wise. I really think Intel has done it with these CoreDuo and Core2Duo mobile's. I've been a desktop man for a long time, mostly because I didn't believe notebooks are fast enough for day to day tasks. I guess I've been shown otherwise. These Core2's are definately the future.

~Josh

 

I have a Dell inspiron 6400, I recentely exchanged my X1400 card with a X1600 card. My graphics performace has been greatly improved. Although I cant play too long as my laptop overheats with the new card.

If it werent for the thermal issues I would recommend that you do the x1600 upgrade yourself. but unfortunately it could cause major damage to your Laptop, so I do not recommend it. Infact, I fear I screwed my whole laptop up becasue it makes really weird noises and the screen goes blue sometimes

 

how did you exchange your x1400 to a x1600? i want to do it, im not concered about heat, between fan control, and underclocking, im sure it'd do fine.